Monrovia, Liberia – Solidarity Center has wrapped off a two-day intensive training on gender-based violence (GBV) and workplace discrimination for key officials at Liberia’s Ministry of Labor, marking a significant step in improving labor rights enforcement.
The goal of the seminar, which brought together Labor Inspectors, Commissioners, and Hearing Officers in Monrovia, was to give participants the skills they needed to handle these important concerns in the workplace while also deepening their awareness of GBV and discrimination.
The goal of the training was to improve the ability of Commissioners, Hearing Officers, and Labor Inspectors to effectively handle GBV and discrimination in the workplace.
In order to combat prejudice, it was also meant to fortify networks between various organizations and groups.
Christopher Johnson of the Solidarity Center, who spoke at the conclusion of the program on Friday, November 15, 2024, stated that the organization closely collaborates with the global labor movement to advance workers’ rights and oversees six offices in Africa and more than 20 worldwide.
He highlighted how important workers’ rights are and how important ILO Convention 190 is. He claimed that the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), the biggest labor union in the US, is the parent organization of the Solidarity Center.
He revealed that Convention 190 encompasses more than just conventional workplace difficulties; it frames them as fundamental human rights issues that impact entire communities as well as workers.
Steve S. Kolubah, Deputy Minister for Labor for Manpower, Planning, and Development, for his part, highlights the importance of the program for Liberia’s labor industry.
“Seeing it happening today is like a dream come true, especially before the year comes to an end,” says Minister Kolubah, who is proud of the workshop’s fulfillment.
He recognizes the vital role that participants play and reminds them of their significance to the Liberian labor community as a whole as well as to the Ministry of Labor.
In addition, Madam Esther D. Yango, the Executive Director of the Secretariat for the Women NGO, stated that in order to solve gender-related issues, there should be a gender focal person at different workplaces.
For the sake of the nation, we are also collaborating with the Ministry of Labor to ensure that Convention 190 is ratified. “The government should ratify all the major documents that make women safe if women must be safe at work,” she said.
Labor Inspector Deborah K. Davis, meantime, states that “women and men should be given equal opportunities” in the workplace and vows her dedication to addressing women’s marginalization.
“The message of Convention 190 must extend beyond the Ministry of Labor into the broader society here,” Davis says, urging “a broader outreach involving ministers and directors from other sectors.”
Funding from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) enabled the training program, which is a major step in improving workers’ rights and empowering them to fight for equitable treatment at work.
Reported by: Prince Saah
Contact: +231778239813
Email: saahprince119@gmail.com
